Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Rosemarie Trockel. It dates from 1988 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, a 1988 work by Rosemarie Trockel, is a mixed-media drawing composed of cut-and-pasted printed paper, presented in two accordion-folded pieces within a plastic pouch, housed at The Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork features sparse, bold black text on a plain white background, including fragmented phrases like 'das', 'INTUS LEGERE', 'durch die', and 'SONDERGOTIK'. The arrangement, with overlapping and edge-cut words, suggests layering and depth, inviting interpretation of the disjointed linguistic elements.
Technique & Style
Trockel employs a collage technique, combining cut-and-pasted printed paper with accordion folding, resulting in a simplicity that contrasts with the subtle complexity of the overlaid text, against a backdrop of faint smudges on the white surface.
History & Provenance
Created in 1988, the piece is part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection, reflecting Trockel's exploration of media and meaning during this period.
Context
Within Trockel's oeuvre, Untitled aligns with her interest in challenging traditional notions of art production and language's role in visual art, characteristic of late 20th-century conceptual and mixed-media practices.
Legacy
As part of Trockel's body of work, Untitled contributes to the broader recognition of her innovative approaches to materiality and semantic ambiguity, influencing subsequent generations of artists exploring text and collage.
Artist & collection
Artist
Rosemarie Trockel is a German conceptual artist. She has made drawings, paintings, sculptures, videos and installations, and has worked in mixed media. From 1985, she made pictures using knitting-machines. She is a…
